ACLU Responds to President Trump’s Speech on Border Security

WASHINGTON — In response to President Trump’s address on border security tonight, Lorella Praeli, deputy political director at the American Civil Liberties Union, issued the following statement:

“There is indeed a humanitarian crisis at the border—but it is one of this administration’s own making. Its manufactured security emergency isn’t credible. President Trump and Secretary Nielsen have lied about border statistics and conditions, continued to push narratives that are proven false, and egregiously distorted realities. Their denial of the humanity and rights of immigrants is driving this administration’s policy agenda, and it is killing people.

“With tonight’s speech, President Trump chose to compound the chaos because he can’t convince the majority of Americans that their taxpayer dollars should fund his bogus campaign promise. We are just days away from the longest government shutdown in American history, because Senate Majority Leader McConnell and the White House continue to obstruct a clear way out, blocking bipartisan bills to reopen the government. The President appears to be more focused on procuring his xenophobic symbol than running the government and upholding democratic norms.”